More than 120 people – from toddlers through to senior citizens – joined the BAPS Annual 10k Challenge in Wellingborough on Sunday 7 May 2017.

The charity Challenge brought together more than 3,000 enthusiastic participants from towns and cities across the UK for a fun and healthy way to raise money for various worthy causes and local charities.

The funds from this year’s event in Wellingborough will go towards BAPS’s multifarious educational, community and spiritual activities serving children, youths, families and the elderly.

In addition, this year’s national charity partner with BAPS is Alzheimer’s Society, one of the country’s largest charities fighting dementia.

Previous national partners for BAPS and BAPS Charities have included Age UK, the Anthony Nolan Trust, Barnardo’s, Breast Cancer Care, the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, KIDS, and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The event kicked off shortly after 1.00pm from BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Wellingborough in the presence of The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Barry Graves, and Sarah Hughes from Northants Alzheimer’s Society.

Addressing the gathering, Councillor Graves said, “The efforts of BAPS are to be applauded as they have combined health with raising funds and as dementia is a growing concern for the country, the monies raised will help research for a cure.”

After the opening ceremony, walkers, joggers and runners went to Eastfield Park for the 10-kilometre Challenge.

Gita Patel, one of the participants, shared, “We really had a good time. Thank you for organising this event. This was my first ever sponsored walk and it was an honour to raise funds for such a deserving charity.”

One of the lead volunteers for the event, Mahesh Patel, added, “This event raised awareness of dementia in our society and it was good to see so many people joining in to raise funds and enjoy the afternoon walk.”